Owens' fund-raising lagged before retirement

ALBANY—Democratic Rep. Bill Owens, who abruptly announced last month that he will retire from the House, was still raising money through the end of 2013, though his fund-raising efforts lagged behind previous cycles.

Filings with the Federal Election Commission show Owens currently has $547,488 in his campaign accounts, collecting $187,879 during the last three months of 2013. That's less than the $212,991 he raised between July and October, and both figures are lower than his fund-raising totals for the same periods in the 2012 election cycle.

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Owens, an attorney from Plattsburgh, has said his decision not to seek a third full term was based on personal considerations, and that his fund-raising numbers were meeting projections. The 21st District covers parts of 12 counties, including the Adirondack Park, Plattsburgh and Watertown.

Owens' announcement on Jan. 14 came as a surprise to most observers, and the filing suggests party leaders in Washington were expecting him to stand for re-election through the end of the year. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee earmarked $20,700 for Owens from its own fund-raising efforts, making transfers to Owens' campaign committee through the end of December.

The latest filings report activity through Dec. 31, so it's unclear how Owens' January announcement has affected her fund-raising.

Stefanik, a 29-year-old who works at her family's plywood business, reported a $1,000 check from Ken Mehlman, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee and $500 from Margaret Spellings, a top aide to former President George W. Bush. Stefanik was a White House aide at the end of Bush's administration.